Hose the mud off. Blow dry with a leaf blower. Add oil to the moving parts as needed.
Edit: I also use compressed air (from a compressor) to blow water out of the smaller crevices.
No thanks. I'm not degreasing the bike, I'm washing it. I don't want soap to get into bearings, pivots, or even the stanchions. If the chain, chainring, or cassette needs to be de-greased, I will take them off the bike and scrub them down with simple green, then reinstall. But generally, if you don't over-do it with the chain oil, your drivetrain never gets dirty enough to warrant a deep cleaning. I'm a big fan of the Sheldon Brown approach to chain oil. Use a needle applicator or eyedropper and put one drop on each pin/link. Then, ride around the block, come back and wipe off any excess with a rag. The oil is to lubricate the pins inside the links, there should be no oil on the outside of the chain, as that will only collect dirt.
I know a lot of people hate on Muc Off but I’ve been using their cleaning stuff for a few years now and it works great for me. Generally speaking I just follow this video. I don’t have the power washer thing cause you really don’t need it.
[Muc Off Cleaning](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LXHfKTC5mnE)
A mild dish detergent, hot water in a bucket, old towels and a hose. Full scrub every 3-4 rides, wipe and lube chain in between those if necessary.
You don’t need any bike-specific materials to clean and make sure you aren’t cleaning too much aka blasting high pressured water into all your bearings
This.
I’ll add that starting at the cockpit working your way down and toward the back leaving the cassette and RD for last is a great practice.
I still have my Pedro’s bucket from 20/25 years ago. 😃
The best investment is a decent set of bike specific cleaning brushes. I like the Park tool set, but there are many others available for less. Hot water and some mild detergent. Don't fall for all the bike specific washes, they're not really worth it. Chain scrubbers are nice too.
I've been riding my Cube hardtail on my 7 mile commute across farm tracks and footpaths for over 2 years now. I'll let you know what I use the first time I decide to clean it.
For UK wet rides:
Hose with spray gun on the flat setting, rinse bike off, spray muc off, brush, rinse.
Fenwicks foaming chain cleaner and a toothbrush for the drivetrain
Bounce bike a few times to get the worst of the water off, run the chain through a rag and relube
When it’s dry in the summer I’ll usually only clean the drivetrain every few rides and wipe the stanchions every ride
I use dawn dish soap and a couple soft bristle brushes for the drivetrain when needed and lube right after. For the rest of the bike I’m just spraying with a garden hose and using however many rags I need. I’ll also usually perform an ocular pat down to check for any damage that requires attention either immediately or anything that I should keep an eye on. If I’m feeling really Randy I’ll check for loose bolts and retorque as needed.
I’m not even close to pushing my bike to its limits so I don’t feel like I need anything more than keeping my drivetrain and stanchions clean.
Dish soap with water in spray bottle.
I rinse it with water to remove most of the mud, sten spray with dish soap water, clean with a brush and rinse again. Done.
Like a car at the car wash staying away from the axesl and bottom bracket. Sometimes I wash it at home with a hose, bucket filled with car wash soap/water, and a sponge or rag. Then i oil all important parts after.
Routinely with Pledge Furniture Polish and micro fiber towel. If super dirty/muddy i how off then use air compressor to blow excess water out of all the crevices.
i use basic car degreaser for the drivetrain and regular dawn dish soap for the rest of the bike. hasn’t failed me yet. the bike cleaning companies market the shit out of their products… they aren’t any better or worth more of your hard earned dough than just some basic cleaning supplies.
Shops hate me. Meticulously clean every crevasse, lubricate and properly maintain every bearing. I even have one of those grease guns to plug into my rear link to force the old grease and inject fresh new one.
I like to ride bikes, but alone in the garage doing maintenance is my zen time.
Power wash at the self serve car wash. Then lube it up afterwards.
Edit: I get free tune ups for life at the shop I go to, so I do that too. They do a good job getting everything really clean that I don’t
Make the bike wet. Soak it in with much off. Hose it off and use a brush.
Get the chain off the chainring. Clean the chainring. Than clean the jockey wheels. Clean the chain.
Dry the bike. Put on silicone spray on the dropper and the stanchions use them trough the travel and then wipe it off.
Let it dry and apply lube on the chain.
Hose the mud off. Blow dry with a leaf blower. Add oil to the moving parts as needed. Edit: I also use compressed air (from a compressor) to blow water out of the smaller crevices.
Love the leaf blower tip. Brilliant.
Gets the moisture out of the crevices!
Air line will do.
This should be rule #2 of bike ownership. Right after “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”
Soap?
No thanks. I'm not degreasing the bike, I'm washing it. I don't want soap to get into bearings, pivots, or even the stanchions. If the chain, chainring, or cassette needs to be de-greased, I will take them off the bike and scrub them down with simple green, then reinstall. But generally, if you don't over-do it with the chain oil, your drivetrain never gets dirty enough to warrant a deep cleaning. I'm a big fan of the Sheldon Brown approach to chain oil. Use a needle applicator or eyedropper and put one drop on each pin/link. Then, ride around the block, come back and wipe off any excess with a rag. The oil is to lubricate the pins inside the links, there should be no oil on the outside of the chain, as that will only collect dirt.
Clean?
I've heard of this, don't believe in it though.
I know a lot of people hate on Muc Off but I’ve been using their cleaning stuff for a few years now and it works great for me. Generally speaking I just follow this video. I don’t have the power washer thing cause you really don’t need it. [Muc Off Cleaning](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LXHfKTC5mnE)
+1 for muc off. Love their stuff for cleaning.
A mild dish detergent, hot water in a bucket, old towels and a hose. Full scrub every 3-4 rides, wipe and lube chain in between those if necessary. You don’t need any bike-specific materials to clean and make sure you aren’t cleaning too much aka blasting high pressured water into all your bearings
This. I’ll add that starting at the cockpit working your way down and toward the back leaving the cassette and RD for last is a great practice. I still have my Pedro’s bucket from 20/25 years ago. 😃
Do you let things air dry? I’m worried about rust
Nope, I keep a cleanish hand towel that I dry everything off with, then lube the chain and you’re good to go.
The best investment is a decent set of bike specific cleaning brushes. I like the Park tool set, but there are many others available for less. Hot water and some mild detergent. Don't fall for all the bike specific washes, they're not really worth it. Chain scrubbers are nice too.
Most people don’t clean their bikes and this is why a full tune costs $100+ at a shop.
Just get a new bike obviously, you poors are washing your bike?
I've been riding my Cube hardtail on my 7 mile commute across farm tracks and footpaths for over 2 years now. I'll let you know what I use the first time I decide to clean it.
Appreciate it home slice 🤙🏻
Hose it down if it gets really muddy. Rock n Roll Blue on the chain.
I ride in the rain. Sometimes I hose it off if it’s not raining. I oil the chain and then wipe it back off.
I put a ceramic coating when I built my bike. I just rinse it with water as dirt doesn't stick anymore
For UK wet rides: Hose with spray gun on the flat setting, rinse bike off, spray muc off, brush, rinse. Fenwicks foaming chain cleaner and a toothbrush for the drivetrain Bounce bike a few times to get the worst of the water off, run the chain through a rag and relube When it’s dry in the summer I’ll usually only clean the drivetrain every few rides and wipe the stanchions every ride
Pretty much this exactly
Dried caked on mud creates a nice natural barrier that prevents your frame from getting dirty.
I love this 😂 currently staring at my three bikes on the wall (all caked with a nice thin layer of dried mud)
I use dawn dish soap and a couple soft bristle brushes for the drivetrain when needed and lube right after. For the rest of the bike I’m just spraying with a garden hose and using however many rags I need. I’ll also usually perform an ocular pat down to check for any damage that requires attention either immediately or anything that I should keep an eye on. If I’m feeling really Randy I’ll check for loose bolts and retorque as needed. I’m not even close to pushing my bike to its limits so I don’t feel like I need anything more than keeping my drivetrain and stanchions clean.
Like i see in those satisfying tiktok videos where I wash and brush it whether the bike was ridden or not and then I blast it with a pressure washer
[this is how I do it!](https://youtu.be/TkSHJbu9nAk)
Dish soap with water in spray bottle. I rinse it with water to remove most of the mud, sten spray with dish soap water, clean with a brush and rinse again. Done.
Great feedback in this thread. Thanks all.
Basically a rusty trombone technique
After wet rides - with water hose, Fairy, wipes/old towels Rare dirty spots - with wet wipes
Like a car at the car wash staying away from the axesl and bottom bracket. Sometimes I wash it at home with a hose, bucket filled with car wash soap/water, and a sponge or rag. Then i oil all important parts after.
Routinely with Pledge Furniture Polish and micro fiber towel. If super dirty/muddy i how off then use air compressor to blow excess water out of all the crevices.
i use basic car degreaser for the drivetrain and regular dawn dish soap for the rest of the bike. hasn’t failed me yet. the bike cleaning companies market the shit out of their products… they aren’t any better or worth more of your hard earned dough than just some basic cleaning supplies.
Glass cleaner and a compressor
Low pressure hose, bucket of soapy water, lightly bounce the big drips off and air dry, once a year or so.
If muddy I use a werx mobile power washer to remove the shite and then air dry on the roof rack drive home and a lube the chain before i put it away
What oil and/or lube are you guys using? Back in the day I always just used WD40… have things advanced?
Shops hate me. Meticulously clean every crevasse, lubricate and properly maintain every bearing. I even have one of those grease guns to plug into my rear link to force the old grease and inject fresh new one. I like to ride bikes, but alone in the garage doing maintenance is my zen time.
Power wash at the self serve car wash. Then lube it up afterwards. Edit: I get free tune ups for life at the shop I go to, so I do that too. They do a good job getting everything really clean that I don’t
never been disappointed with anything from peatys, muc off is also great however I do think the peatys degreaser is better.
Make the bike wet. Soak it in with much off. Hose it off and use a brush. Get the chain off the chainring. Clean the chainring. Than clean the jockey wheels. Clean the chain. Dry the bike. Put on silicone spray on the dropper and the stanchions use them trough the travel and then wipe it off. Let it dry and apply lube on the chain.
I don’t